Boyertown Area School District ELEMENTARY SENIOR ORCHESTRA August 2012 Dear Parents of Elementary String Students, Here is the information you and your child will need for the string program this year. This packet includes: ORCHESTRA INFORMATION Orchestra Schedule 2012-2013, pg. 4 LESSON INFORMATION New Materials Needed for 2012-2013, pg. 5 Lesson Groups ORCHESTRA TRIP Preliminary Information on May Trip to the Reading Phillies! SLIPS TO RETURN Parent Volunteer Information, pg. 7 Yellow Emergency Card Please review all information thoroughly and mark necessary dates in your calendars. We look forward to a great year! Musically yours, Mrs. Anita Boyer Mrs. Jemma Malkasian
ORCHESTRA INFORMATION An Overview When are rehearsals scheduled? THERE ARE SOME CHANGES THIS YEAR. We will still rehearse from 7:15am to 8:30am at Boyertown Elementary, however orchestra will no longer be every other Wednesday. Generally the senior orchestra will now rehearse on Thursdays, but please check the schedule each week. There are a few other days of the week when we rehearse due to PSSAs, holidays, and other scheduling issues. Where are rehearsals located? Rehearsals will for band and orchestra will be at the same time. Orchestra will rehearsal at the Boyertown Elementary Gym while Band will rehearse at the Gilbertsville Elementary All-Purpose Room. What if my student is in band and orchestra? Students involved in both will go to Orchestra one week and Band the next. Band will always start the cycle. When will I need to drop off my student? All rehearsals will start at 7:15 a.m. We would like to be tuned and in seats by then, so please come early to allow time for that. When concert time approaches, we will have an after-school dress rehearsal at the Senior High School. All afterschool rehearsals are on the attached scheduled. What is the attendance policy? Attendance is an extremely important part of a successful ensemble. Students are permitted to have two absences/latenesses before each concert. If a student is absent/late from more than two rehearsals, a note will need to be submitted to the director. If a student misses more than half of the rehearsals, their concert participation will be in jeopardy and a meeting with the parent will need to be arranged. If you have any further questions not addressed by this letter, please contact us at your earliest convenience. Musically yours, Mrs. Anita Boyer Mrs. Jemma Malkasian 2
ORCHESTRA INFORMATION SENIOR ORCHESTRA SCHEDULE 2012-2013 Dear Parents, All 2 nd through 4 th year string students participate in the Elementary Senior Orchestra. On the back of this letter is the Orchestra Rehearsal and Concert Schedule for the Winter and Spring season. Students participating in the Orchestra program are expected to attend all rehearsals. Please notify us in writing if your child misses any rehearsal. Please mark all dates on your calendar. A parent/guardian will need to drop off the orchestra student at the rehearsal school promptly at the specified time. Be sure that your child has his/her instrument, music, PENCIL and music stand at all rehearsals. Instruments may not be left overnight in the school. This promotes poor practice habits. Also, the instruments are valuable and must be treated responsibly. ATTENTION!!!! IN THE EVENT OF SNOW!!!! If there is ever a snow delay or school is closed on the day of a rehearsal for any reason, REHEARSAL WILL BE CANCELED. Please feel free to call us at your child s school. CONCERT DRESS GIRLS BOYS white top (blouse, sweater, etc.) black skirt (below the knee) or slacks black stockings black shoes NO JEANS OR SNEAKERS, please! white dress shirt tie, optional but preferred black or navy pants black shoes NO JEANS OR SNEAKERS, please! 3
Senior Orchestra Rehearsal Schedule 2012-2013 Winter Concert Parent Day Date Location Drop-Off Thursday September 20 BES 7:15 a.m. Thursday October 4 BES 7:15 a.m. Thursday October 11 BES 7:15 a.m. Thursday October 25 BES 7:15 a.m. Thursday November 8 BES 7:15 a.m. TUESDAY November 20 BES 7:15 a.m. DRESS REHEARSAL Wednesday, November 28 Senior High School: BUSES drop students off: 3:30pm PARENTS pick students up: 5:30pm CONCERT Thursday, November 29 Senior High School: tuning, Bear Gym: 6:15pm concert begins at: 7:00pm *6 th graders perform an additional piece at the Winter Concert and have a morning rehearsal for it at BES on Wednesday, November 14 th at 7:15am. Spring Concert Parent Day Date Location Drop-Off Thursday January 17 BES 7:15 a.m. Thursday January 24 BES 7:15 a.m. Thursday February 7 BES 7:15 a.m. Thursday February 28 BES 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY March 15 BES 7:15 a.m. TUESDAY March 26 BES 7:15 a.m. Thursday April 4 BES 7:15 a.m. Thursday April 25 BES 7:15 a.m. DRESS REHEARSAL Wednesday, May 1 Senior High School: Parents drop students off in the New Auditorium: Parents pick students up: 6:00pm 8:00pm CONCERT Thursday, May 2 Senior High School: Tuning, Bear Gym: 6:15pm Concert begins at: 7:00pm 4
LESSON INFORMATION New Materials Needed 2012-2013 With a new year of learning upon us, students in each level will need a new method book. Below is a list of materials needed for the year. Approximate costs are in ( ). Please call String Tree or your local vendor to order the appropriate materials. Orders need to be placed promptly in order to have the needed supplies for the first lesson. 2 nd Year Students 3 rd Year Students 4 th Year Students Essential Elements 2000 Suzuki Essential Elements 2000 Book 2 Book 1 Book 3 ($9.00) ($8.00) ($8.00) All students are required to have these items: 1) Usable Rosin ($1.50-$15, bass $20) 2) A Music Stand ($15) 3) Sponge shoulder rest ($5) Some extras you may also want to consider: 1) Extra Strings (anywhere from $4-$30/string) 2) MetroTuner ($25) 3) Collapsible Kun shoulder rest ($25) 4) Cello/bass accessory package ($20) To order, please list the instrument your child plays AND the full title of the book on the String Tree envelope or call String Tree (610-670-5434) or your local vendor. **Be sure to specify violin, viola, cello or bass.** Students need all new materials no later than their second scheduled lesson. Please place your order a.s.a.p. Lesson schedules on a separate page are provided tonight for the first month of school. Please be sure to pick one up and review it with your child. We will schedule the lessons the same way as last year, on a 6 day rotation. Please remember to always check the date of your lesson. Many times holidays can throw everything off. Thanks!! 5
SLIPS TO FILL OUT AND RETURN 1.) Please review the attendance procedure on the previous page and fill out the blue emergency card. A NEW EMERGENCY CARD MUST BE FILLED OUT EACH YEAR. 2.) Orchestra Parent Volunteers are needed again this year. If you are interested, please fill out and return the attached form. All Forms are due either before or at the first orchestra rehearsal on Thursday, September 20 th. Sincerely, Mrs. Anita Boyer Mrs. Jemma Malkasian 6
Dear Parents, Orchestra Parent Volunteer Sign Up Form 2012-2013 With the number of students in the string program continually rising, we need your help. Last year we enlisted the assistance of several parent volunteers to aid us with various aspects of our orchestra rehearsal (helping children set up stands, find the bathroom, maintain control, etc.). You will always work in pairs and DO NOT NEED TO BE MUSICALLY INCLINED TO VOLUNTEER. We need lots of help and cannot do it without you! You may volunteer for as many rehearsals as you wish. Morning rehearsals are always at BES and you will be needed from 7:00-8:45am. Each parent will be given a volunteer schedule once all of the information has been compiled. Parent Volunteer Form Parent Name Phone Child s Name Child s School Parent s Email Address Child s Teacher/Grade The morning Rehearsal Volunteer Time is 7:00-8:45 a.m. I am available to help on the following dates: September 20 January 17 October 4 January 24 October 11 February 7 October 25 February 28 November 8 March 15 November 20 March 26 April 4 April 25 @ SR. HIGH Dress Rehearsal: Wednesday, Nov. 28 3:30-5:30 p.m. Concert: Thursday, Nov. 29 6:15-8:00 p.m. I am interested in being head parent. @ SR. HIGH Dress Rehearsal: Wednesday, May 1 6:00-8:00 p.m. Concert: Thursday, May 2 6:15-8:15 p.m. 7